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Video Pro Bike: Ivan Basso's Cannondale Slice Hi-Mod

Video Pro Bike: Ivan Basso's Cannondale Slice Hi-Mod

Ivan Basso (Liquigas) will rely on the Cannondale Slice Hi-Mod for time trials this season.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Naturally Cannondale has designed the Slice to have a relatively narrow profile.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Cannondale claims the rear end of the Slice is aerodynamic but also comfortable thanks to carefully shaped tubing profiles.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Cannondale's 'Speed Shadow' shields the rear wheel all the way from the bottom bracket to the seat stays.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

A dropped down tube supposedly smoothes airflow coming off of the front wheel.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

The fork blades on the accompanying Slice Aero fork are nearly as deep as the spokes on the Mavic Io front wheel.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Cannondale normally builds the Slice with a massive bottom bracket shell to house its oversized BB30 bottom bracket standard…

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

…but Basso's bike is fitted with a threaded adapter instead.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Basso prefers 177.5mm crankarms on his TT bike but Cannondale doesn't offer the Hollowgram crank in that length so he has to resort to SRM's own version, which is only offered in Octalink or square taper fitments.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Basso's Vision aero bars are fitted with straight extensions.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

A third brake lever is fitted to one of the extensions so that Basso can stay in the tuck in more situations.

Liquigas mechanics added an extra helper spring to provide a snappier response at the lever.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Mavic's five-spoke Io front wheel still strikes an imposing profile.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Wrapped around both the Io front wheel and Comete rear disc are Schwalbe Stelvio tubulars.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Basso's perch is a modified fi'zi:k Arione CX

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

The included carbon seatpost incorporates two offset positions.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Ivan Basso (Liquigas) will rely on the Cannondale Slice Hi-Mod for time trials this season.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Naturally Cannondale has designed the Slice to have a relatively narrow profile.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Cannondale claims the rear end of the Slice is aerodynamic but also comfortable thanks to carefully shaped tubing profiles.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Cannondale's 'Speed Shadow' shields the rear wheel all the way from the bottom bracket to the seat stays.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

A dropped down tube supposedly smoothes airflow coming off of the front wheel.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

The fork blades on the accompanying Slice Aero fork are nearly as deep as the spokes on the Mavic Io front wheel.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Cannondale normally builds the Slice with a massive bottom bracket shell to house its oversized BB30 bottom bracket standard…

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

…but Basso's bike is fitted with a threaded adapter instead.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Basso prefers 177.5mm crankarms on his TT bike but Cannondale doesn't offer the Hollowgram crank in that length so he has to resort to SRM's own version, which is only offered in Octalink or square taper fitments.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Basso's Vision aero bars are fitted with straight extensions.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

A third brake lever is fitted to one of the extensions so that Basso can stay in the tuck in more situations.

Liquigas mechanics added an extra helper spring to provide a snappier response at the lever.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Mavic's five-spoke Io front wheel still strikes an imposing profile.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Wrapped around both the Io front wheel and Comete rear disc are Schwalbe Stelvio tubulars.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Basso's perch is a modified fi'zi:k Arione CX

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

The included carbon seatpost incorporates two offset positions.

James Huang/BikeRadar.com

Image 1 of 22

The Cannondale Slice Hi-Mod is one of the newer time trial shapes in the ProTour, having first seen action in competition less than two years ago at the 2007 Giro d'Italia. Though late to the all-carbon TT bike game (the previous Six13 Slice used a mix of aluminium and carbon tubes), Cannondale at least enjoyed the benefit of already knowing what would work and what wouldn't.

Proven aero technology on Basso's Slice Hi-Mod includes the deep 'Speed Shadow' rear wheel cutout, a more compact rear triangle for reduced frontal area, a slender horizontal top tube, and an aero fork whose crown integrates relatively tightly with the slightly dropped down tube. Of course, aero-profile tubing is used wherever applicable and the included deep-section carbon seatpost sports two offset positions to accommodate both time trial and triathlon events.

For the 2009 season, Cannondale upped the ante further with a new Hi-Mod version that uses a stiffer blend of carbon fibres. According to Cannondale marketing manager Bill Rudell, the new version is stiffer than before and also lighter. Frame weights now hover at just over 1100g - awfully respectable for a carbon road frame and exceptionally light for an aero time trial machine.

But the complete bike of returning Italian star Ivan Basso (Liquigas) isn't quite so svelte - total weight was a portly 8.92kg (19.67lb) when we caught up with it prior to this year's Tour of California. That said, Cannondale's own Slice Hi-Mod Ultimate production version reportedly weighs as little as 6.44kg (14.2lb) without pedals.

Why the huge discrepancy?

Like an increasing number of pro riders, Basso chooses to both race and train with a power meter and though SRM offer a model based on Cannondale's own ultralight Hollowgram crankset design, its 175mm maximum arm length falls short of Basso's preferred 177.5mm dimension for time trials.

As such, he has to resort to SRM's solid aluminium version plus its accompanying Shimano Ultegra Octalink bottom bracket and threaded BB30 frame adapter and pays a 500g (1.1lb) weight penalty in the process - or roughly 700g heavier than the standard Hollowgram SL unit.

Basso's SRM setup is valuable for collecting data, but he pays a weight penalty

Factor in a pair of stainless steel-axled Speedplay Zero pedals (206g per pair), last year's Campagnolo Record 10-speed componentry (the stock bike uses SRAM Red), and the large 58cm frame size and the 8.92kg suddenly begins to make a little more sense.

Basso's Slice is at least meant to be comfortable, though, thanks to Cannondale's Slice Aero Vibration Elimination (SAVE) stay shaping. According to Cannondale, slightly flattened sections on the chain stays and carefully designed bends on the slender seat stays yield a modest leaf spring effect as Basso rolls down the road.

Basso's perch is a modified fi'zi:k Arione CX

Basso has not always been known for his prowess in time trials but the returning Italian rider is hoping to shed that reputation in 2009. Prior to his doping suspension in the summer of 2007, Basso's performances against the clock had begun to improve thanks in part to wind tunnel work with then-team CSC. He had also been scheduled for another session after the Tour of California before a knee injury sidelined the appointment.

With stated targets to include the upcoming Giro d'Italia, it seems that Basso may still have some more work to do though. Basso posted a mid-pack 66th in the opening Tour of California prologue and more recently, a reasonable 19th place finish during stage 5 of Tirreno-Adriatico - 1'14 down on stage winner Andreas Klöden (Astana).

But the surprisingly long and hilly time trial on stage 12 of the Giro may prove to be interesting with its long 61.5km route and two climbs: the Passo del Bracco (600m of climbing) and the Passo del Termine (500m). Basso has yet to decide whether he will use a time trial bike or a standard road machine for what is likely to be a decisive stage, but rumours suggest Cannondale may uncork something special for Basso just for that day.

An even lighter Slice perhaps or maybe even an aero-tubed road frame? Check back with us in May.